Loading

The Massacre of the Innocents (Without the Fir Tree)

Raphael, Marcantonio Raimondiabout 1511-12

The Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States

Raphael drew this composition to be engraved by Marcantonio Raimondi while working in the Vatican apartments adjacent to Michelangelo, who was then painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling. The emotive scene portrays a moment from the biblical Book of Matthew when King Herod, hearing of the birth of a savior, ordered the execution of all male children under two years of age. Known for the clarity and balance of his forms and compositions, the younger Raphael may have found inspiration for this composition in Michelangelo’s narrative intensity and active, twisting nude forms.

Download this artwork (provided by The Cleveland Museum of Art).
Learn more about this artwork.

Details

  • Title: The Massacre of the Innocents (Without the Fir Tree)
  • Creator: Marcantonio Raimondi (Italian, 1470/82-1527/34), Raphael (Italian, 1483-1520)
  • Date Created: about 1511-12
  • Type: Print
  • Rights: CC0
  • External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1964.23
  • Medium: engraving
  • Department: Prints
  • Culture: Italy, 16th century
  • Credit Line: Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland
  • Collection: PR - Engraving
  • Accession Number: 1964.23

Get the app

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more

Flash this QR Code to get the app
Google apps